Phosphorus and sulphur releasing pattern and their availability for maize cultivation

Maize is the third most important cereal crop next to rice and wheat in the world as well as in India. Maize has the higher yield potential and responds greatly to applied fertilizers especially in the irrigated conditions in Tamil Nadu. Phosphorus and sulphur are the major yield limiting factors after nitrogen in the study area (Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu) and proper management of nutrients is essential to realize the maximum potential of the crop and to get higher economic benefit. This study aimed at investigating the releasing pattern of P and S from the experimental soil at different incubation period. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design replicated thrice. The soil samples were collected from the experimental plots and used for incubation studies. There were five levels of P and five levels of S analysed in 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of incubation period. The results found that with progress of time (15 to 60 days of incubation), increasing levels of P and sulphur and their interaction significantly increased the phosphorous release from the soil. Similarly, sulphur availability was also influenced by S levels and P levels, with maximum release of S from 15 days to 30 days.